Machine for applying and affixing stamps and the like.



P. G. E. DANIEL & C. A. H. BULLOCK.

MACHINE FOR APPLYING AND AFFIXING STAMPS AND THE-LIKE.

APPLIUATION FILED DEC. 21, 1010.

1,029,672, Patented June 18, 1912,

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COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH CO" WASHINGTON. n. c.

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TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PERCY GORDON EcKEEsLEY DANIEL, 015 cLEvEn'oN', AND oHAELEs ASHTON HENRY BULLOCK, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

MACHINE FOR APPLYING AND AFFIXING STAMPS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 18, 1912.

Application filed. December 27, 1910. Serial No. 599,415.

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that we, PERCY GORDON Eon- ERSLEY DANIEL and CHARLES AsHToN HENRY BULLOCK, subjects of His Majesty the King of Great Britain, residing the first-named at Clevedon, in the county of Somerset, England, and the second-named at London, 111 the county of London, England, have invented a new and useful Improvement in and Connected with Machines for Applying and Aflixing Stamps and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in and connected with machines for applying and affixing stamps and the like, and has reference to machines of the kind where the depression of a plunger serves to operate mechanism to feed a stamp forward into psition, damp the surface to which the stamp is to be applied, cut the stamp off from the I strip and affix it to the envelop.

i the Our present invention consists of a special damping apparatus for use in such machines, which will apply the moisture to the envelop evenly over the whole area where the stamps are to be applied and which will be cleanly and eflicient in use.

Our invention consists broadly in providing a carrier or pad adapted to take moisture from a wick or other suitable supply and apply such moisture to the surface to be damped. And in order that our invent-ion may be more readily understood and carried into practice, reference is hereby made to accompanying illustrative drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a stamping machine with our improved damping apparatus applied thereto, the counting mechanism beingomltted for the sake of clearness. Fig. 2 is an el'evational view looking in the direction of the arrow X the water containing tank being removed. Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view of the damping pad, and Fig. 4; is a front elevational view thereof.

Referring to the drawingsA designates a water containing tank sultably situated upon the base of the stamping machine, and

a conjunction with a slot A on an extension of the tank so that the position of the tank can be regulated within limits for a purpose which will hereafter be made clear. A wick B is provided and this wick passes through slots in the face of the tank preferably in the manner shown, such wick being of a size relative to the slot through which it passes, which will prevent any drops of moisture leaking through. Pivoted at C to each side of the casing D we provide a pair of bell crank levers E to the lower ends of which the carriage F is pivoted. This carriage comprises a pair of side blocks F and F 2 connected by the spindle F which passes through the ends of the bell-crank levers E. The upper ends of the bell crank levers E are connected by the strut G which passes through the loop H carried by the machine plunger. It will be understood that when the plunger is depressed the bell-cranks E will be caused to rotate about their pivots and the carriage will consequently pass beneath the plunger. The parts must be so proportioned, as shown, that the carriage F must have passed to the right hand side (Fig. l) of the plunger and clear thereof before the pad has been depressed sufiiciently to foul it. Returning to the description of the carriage F which is free to rock about the spindle F we will now proceed to more particularly describe it and the manner in which its motion is constrained in order that it may effectively fulfil its office. 1

The block F is extended somewhatbeyond the limits of the other F to form an end F partaking of the shape of a hook, which hook, when the carriage is in the position shown in the drawings, engages the pin I to prevent the carriage overrunning its extreme position. A second pin J serves to lift the carrier or pad F from the wick B in opposition to the spring K when the carriage is caused to travel to the right, by acting upon the cam surface L. Upon the member F a projection F G is arranged which eX- tends into the pat-h of the guide M. This guide is secured by forming thereon a lug M which is clamped between one of the supporting members D and the base D of the machine. The limits of this lug are indicated by the references h 2 and M The guide is constructed of resilient material and thus the part M is capable of acting in conjunction with the inclined surface N as an automatic cross-over point.

In operation, when the carriage is caused to travel to the right (Fig. 1) as before described, the pad is first lifted from the wick B by the action of the pin J upon the cam surface L. The projection F then contacts with the under surface ofthe raised portion M of the guide M and. is compelled to pass beneath it and hold the moistened roller or pad in contact with the surface upon which it is desired to aifix the stamp thus effecting the damping of the surface to which the stamp is to be applied. When the projection reaches the inclined surface N it distortsthe portion M of the member M and passes between it and the cam surface. The plunger now completes its travel and aflixes the stamp in position as before described. Upon the plunger rising under the influence of the spring, the bell crank levers E will be rotated to their normal position, by the action of the under member of the loop H upon the strut G and the carriage will be returned to its normal position as shown, but with the projection F running above instead of be low the member M thus supporting the pad just above the surface of the stamp and thereby avoiding the wetting of the stamp surface.

In Figs. 3 and 4 We have shown a simple means for regulating the degree of clampness of the exposed portion of the wick. The arrangement consists of a clamping device 0 having two parallel bars 0 which by means of the screws 0 can be adjusted so as to exert a suitable pressure on both sides of the wick thus throttling the supply of moisture to the exposed portion of the wick against which the roller or pad contacts.

What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In combination with movable means for applying a stamp upon a moistened surface, of a device communicating with a source of moistening fluid, moistening mechanism actuated by said means and movable from engagement with said device to and over the surface to be moistened, and a cam for guiding said mechanism in one direction and provided with a flexible trip portion for preventing return of the said mechapism in wiping engagement with said'surace.

2. In combination with means for applying a stamp upon a moistened surface, of a receptacle containing a moistening fluid, a wick protruding from said receptacle, moistening mechanism actuated by said means from a contacting position with said wick to and over the surface to be moistened, and adjusting means for varying the extent of contact of said mechanism with said wick.

3. In combination with means for applying a stamp to a moistened surface, of a device communicating with a source of supply of moistening fluid, and mechanism actuated by said means from a contacting position with said device to and over said sur face, said mechanism including a pivotally mounted spring controlled wiper, a cam for controlling the position of said wiper dur ing movement thereof, and means disengaging said mechanism from said device at the starting movement of said mechanism.

4. In combination with means for applying a stamp to a moistened surface, of a device communicating with a source of supply of moistening fluid, mechanism actuated by said means from a contacting position with said device to and over said surface, said mechanism including a pivotally mounted spring controlled wiper, means disengaging said wiper from said device during the starting movement of the wiper, and a cam for holding said wiper in contact with said surface during its movement abreast thereof.

5. In combination with means for applying a stamp upon a moistened surface, of a receptacle containing the moistening liquid and provided with slots therein, a wick with one end immersed in the liquid and the other end projecting through one slot and extending across a portion of the receptacle and projecting back into the receptacle through the other slot, means engaging the exposed portion of the wick to regulate the degree of moisture thereof, and means engaging the wick to moisten said surface.

6. In combination with means for applying a stamp to a moistened surface, of a wick immersed in a liquid and having a portion thereof lying in an exposed position, means engaging the wick at the exposed portion to regulate the degree of moisture thereof, and means contacting with the wick at the regulated exposed portion thereof to moisten said. surface.

7. In combination with means for applying a stamp to a moistened surface, of a wick having a portion immersed in a liquid, a device for supporting a portion of the wick in an exposed position, means clamping the exposed portion of the wick onto said support to regulate the degree of moisture of the wick, and mechanism operated by said first mentioned means for contacting with the exposed regulated portion of the wick to moisten said surface.

8. In combination with means for applying a stamp to a moistened surface, of a tank adapted to contain a liquid, a wick having one portion immersed in the liquid of said tank and another portion lying abreast the exterior of said tank, means engaging the exterior portion of the wick to regulate the degree of moisture thereof, and mechanism operated by said first named means for contacting with the regulated portion of the wick to moisten said surface.

9. In combination with means for applying a stamp to a moistened surface, of a tank or receptacle for containing liquid, a wick having one portion immersed in said liquid and another portion extending eXte- In testimony whereof we affix our signarior the said tank and back into said tank, tures in presence of two witnesses. means engaging the exteriorly disposed por- PERCY GORDON ECKERSLEY DANIEL tion of the Wick to regulate the de 'ree of moisture thereof, and mechanism ogerated CHARLES ASHTON HENRY BULLOCK by said first mentioned means and contact- Witnesses: ing with the wick at the exterior portion H. D. JAMESON, thereof to moisten said surface. G. P. LIDDON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

